P36.9

Billable

Bacterial sepsis of newborn, unspecified

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 2 — Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock

0.455

V24HCC 2 — Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock

0.455

ESRDHCC 2 — Septicemia, Sepsis, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/Shock

0.000

What This Code Means

A serious blood infection in a newborn where the specific bacterial cause has not been identified.

Coding Tips

•Use this code only when sepsis is confirmed but no organism has been identified despite appropriate testing
•Query the provider to determine if culture results are pending or if a more specific code can be assigned

Clinical Significance

Bacterial sepsis of newborn, unspecified indicates a serious bloodstream infection where the specific bacterial organism has not been identified or culture results are pending. This condition still requires immediate empirical antibiotic therapy and intensive care management, as delays in treatment can result in rapid clinical deterioration and poor outcomes in neonates.

Documentation Requirements

✓Clinical evidence of bacterial sepsis syndrome
✓Laboratory markers consistent with sepsis
✓Documentation that organism unidentified
✓Blood cultures obtained
✓Empirical antibiotic therapy initiated
✓Gestational age and birth weight
✓Clinical course and treatment response
✓Risk factors for bacterial infection

Commonly Confused Codes

P36.0 — Group B strep sepsis when organism identified P36.8 — Other bacterial sepsis when specific organism known A41.9 — Unspecified bacterial sepsis in older patients P37.9 — Unspecified congenital infectious disease

Code Hierarchy

└P36Bacterial sepsis of newborn └P36.9Bacterial sepsis of newborn, unspecified

└P36.9Bacterial sepsis of newborn, unspecified